Arizona: State, national business leaders push for CAFTA treaty

AZ Business Journal ^ | Mike Sunnucks

[hsmomx3]

Heavyweight Arizona and national business interests are pushing for approval of a controversial free trade accord between the U.S. and Central America.

The Central American/Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement would lift trade barriers and tariffs between the U.S, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

Business interests, such as the Business Roundtable, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Intel (which has major computer chip production operations in the East Valley) support the treaty, arguing it will open up new markets to U.S. exports and technology.

The Business Roundtable is a top national advocacy group. Its membership includes executives from top Arizona employers such as Waste Management, JPMorgan Chase/Bank One, Honeywell International Inc., Lockheed Martin, Goodrich and Home Depot.

The roundtable group has recently launched a new lobbying and advertising campaign in favor of CAFTA, which is also supported by the Bush administration and free trade advocates in Arizona's Republican congressional contingent.

Union and liberal critics of the free trade plan worry it will result in more foreign outsourcing of U.S. jobs and hurt domestic textile and manufacturing industries. Arizona's two Democratic congressmen, Ed Pastor and Raul Grijalva, oppose CAFTA.

[hsmomx3]

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[ddantas]

Go CAFTA Go!

[Diplomacy.308]

I'm sure CAFTA will 'create jobs' for Americans as well as NAFTA did.